For the next 3 quarters of an hour Aaron lay resting in bed, chatting with everyone whilst they all made sure he drank water every 15 minutes.
About 3pm he suddenly got another urge to pee. He had to clench his muscles shut and get off the bed as fast as he could manage, surprising everyone in the room. He felt like his bladder was about to explode and although he managed to get off the bed and take a step towards the bathroom, again the urge suddenly became worse and, in front of all them, including Dave, Morgan and Jessica, he again had to grab himself through his gown and run in the bathroom. He managed to get to the toilet and, holding up his gown again stood urinating. Again there was no real pain, only the straining and urge afterwards and he stood straining for another half minute before the urge went away. After flushing the toilet and washing his hands, he went out of the bathroom to get back into the bed. Everyone, including Morgan, felt sorry for the poor guy.
Once he was lying back in bed, he indicated to Dave that he wanted to tell him something private and whispered in the guy's ear.
"Dave can you go give the nurse a simple message? Tell her 4th time. Same as 3rd. She'll understand."
"Sure buddy be right back."
"I just gotta go talk to the nurse guys. Back in a second."
Dave left the room and went to the nurses station.
"Hi, nurse I have a message from Agent Hotchner. He said to tell 4th time same as 3rd, whatever that means."
"Thank you Agent Rossi. Tell him I understand."
Dave walked back into Aaron's room still confused about the message he'd had to deliver to the nurse for Aaron.
"Aaron the nurse said she understands the message, although I was the messenger but I don't have clue what the message means…"
"Probably because it was cryptic like his last message to the nurse…." J.J looked towards Hotch in bed.
"What was his last message to the nurse then J.J?"
"Can I tell him Hotch?"
"Sure you might as well, can't hide much from you guys."
"He said 3rd time. Held ok. No pain. Just same at the end."
"Okay I'm still confused….."
"Do I really have to explain it to you Dave?"
"Hotch even I'm confused…" Morgan really did look confused.
"You too Morgan? Basically you get the 3rd and 4th time part don't you?"
"That the number of times you've been boss?"
"Finally Mr tough guy here catches on…yeah Morgan that's the number of times…"
"I get the no pain part. Obviously it isn't hurting when you go…."
"Another point for Mr genius Morgan over there! Yeah that…held ok is simple enough to understand…."
"What about same at end? That IS confusing and cryptic…"
"You want me to explain Hotch?" Blake looked at Hotch, knowing he was already embarrassed.
"Thanks Blake but think I got it. Morgan when you have a bladder infection, after your bladder is empty, it still feels full so I end up straining after thinking I still have to go. Now do you 2 slow to catch on guys understand?"
"Yeah I do Aaron. Morgan do you need any more explanation?"
"No, think I got it…Thanks."
"I was thinking Dave I know they're releasing me at 5 but maybe we can wait either in here or outside a men's room until I've had to go again. Then I should be okay til we get home."
"Sure Aaron. I'll go see if the nurse will let us stay here after you're released until you've used the toilet…"
"Er…thanks."
Dave left the room and went back to the nurses station.
"Agent Rossi? He hasn't gone again already has he? I mean he's only gone…"
"No actually he was wondering about his release. You see he know's he's being discharged officially at 5pm but, even though he really wants to get home, he was wondering if, due to his infection, he could stay maybe in the room until he's needed to…erm…use the bathroom again.?"
"I can understand what he and you mean. Don't see there should be a problem in that. Tell him as far as I can see he can stay until after he's needed to urinate again just before you take him home."
"Thank you. I might be back in about an hour with another cryptic message…"
"No problem Agent Rossi. We understand both his embarrassment and his cryptic messages…."
Dave went back to the room.
"The nurse said there shouldn't be any problem with you staying in here after your official discharge so that you can wait until you've gone again before we all leave for home."
"Thanks Dave. I HATE having to plan everything around a damn toilet!"
"I'm gonna go down to the pharmacy and fill these for you…" Jessica held out the prescriptions.
"If it's okay with you I might come with you…."
"Sure Dave. At least due to his FBI health insurance the cost of these will be added to his bill so I won't have to pay a penny."
Dave and Jess left the room and went downstairs to the hospital pharmacy where there was a female pharmacist serving.
"Hi I'm Jessica Brooks. I'm here to fill these for my brother in law upstairs…."
"What's the patient's name?"
"FBI Agent Aaron Hotchner."
"Okay, let me get up his details…."
She typed his name into her computer and then got Jess to confirm a few of his details.
"I see he's got health coverage that allows me to add the cost of the prescriptions to his hospital bill. Would you like me to do that for him?"
"Yes please. Dr Brooks has written his patient number on each of his prescriptions."
"Thank you. Before I fill them can I see some I.D so that I can confirm you are who you say you are. It's not that I don't trust, its just hospital policy…."
"Of course. Would my photo driving licence be okay?"
"That would be fine."
She handed the woman her photo driving licence. The pharmacist took a look at it before handing it back to her.
"And if you'd like an FBI Agent to back up her ID and confirm she is Agent Hotchner's sister in law I have my credentials in my pocket…."
"That's okay. That won't be necessary Agent….?
"David Rossi."
"Agent Rossi. I trust Ms Brooks here. Okay I've added the costs to his bill so there won't be anything for you guys to pay. I'll just go and fill these for you now. It might take me a minute or two…."
"That's okay we'll wait…"
A couple of minutes later, the pharmacist returned with a small carrier bag.
"All his prescription medicines are in here Ms Brooks, along with the prescriptions themselves which, by law, he needs to keep with the medicines as proof they are prescribed medication."
"I understand. Thank you."
Jessica was about to take the bag from the woman when Dave stepped forwards.
"A gentleman ALWAYS carries bags for the lady…." He took the bag from the pharmacist.
They headed back upstairs to Aaron's room.
"We got the medicines for you Aaron…" Dave held up a bag.
"Thanks. You did get them to add the cost to my hospital bill didn't you? I hope you didn't have to pay anything…"
"Don't Aaron, she added everything to your bill."
"Talking of health insurance, Jessica, as your my family, I'm gonna add you as a beneficiary to my policy when I next get a chance to. Obviously Jack is listed as a dependant but I'm gonna add your name too so that you can benefit if you get sick…Also gonna do the same with all the coverage policies I got with the bureau, which include a very generous life insurance, death benefit, disability benefit, etc. Jack's already listed so he'd benefit if I had to claim on anything but I think you deserve to benefit from them all as much as me and Jack do."
"You don't have to do that Aaron. I do have health insurance…"
"Jessica I WANT to. Dave you going into the office tomorrow by any chance?"
"Yeah probably."
"Could you do me a favour? Go down to personnel and human resources and get them to add Jessica Brooks to all insurance and benefit poliicies in my name? If they need a signature I'll sign them when I go back to work."
"Sure Aaron be happy to."
"Jess maybe you and the guys could start getting everything packed and ready for 5? I might change about half 4 so that, as soon as I've had to pee again we can leave…"
"Good idea Aaron."
At just after 4, Aaron had to again rush to the toilet, but this time he made it more easily.
When he returned to bed he pressed the nurses buzzer and the nurse popped her head around the door.
"Agent Hotcher?"
"5th time. Same as 4th"
"Thank you Agent Hotchner."
At about half 4, he looked at the others.
"Guys, if Dave, Morgan and Jess drive me home, will you guys go ahead to her house now so that I can leave faster and easier?"
"Sure Hotch."
"Could you guys maybe pick up Jack from J.J's house on your way and take him back to Jess's with you?"
"Sure. Love to."
Everyone but Dave, Morgan and Jessica left.
"Is everything except clothes for me to wear packed and ready to go?"
"Yep. The stuffs on the chair there."
"Maybe you two" He indicated to Morgan and Jessica, "could go put the bags in the car whilst I change into these clothes?"
"Sure. We'll be back in a minute."
The two took the bags and went out of the room. The nurse saw them carrying Agent Hotchner's bags.
"Um… guys… Agent Hotchner hasn't officially been dischared yet…."
"Yeah we know. We're just putting his bags in the SUV so that we can leave as soon as the guy has…erm….well…gone…"
"Okay just wanted to make sure the patient wasn't trying to sneak out before his official discharge."
"No but if you could stay out of the room until we return as he's getting dressed…?"
"Of course, unless he presses the nurses buzzer…."
"Sure. We'll be back in a second."
Meanwhile Aaron only had to look at Dave before Dave understood.
"I'll be right outside Aaron. Just shout once you've finished getting dressed."
"Thanks Dave. Won't be long."
As soon as Dave had closed the door behind him Aaron stood beside his bed and pulled off his hospital gown.
He then pulled on the t-shirt, underpants, socks, tracksuit trousers and sweater before pulling on the shoes.
"I'M DONE DAVE!"
Dave re-entered the room to Aaron lying fully dressed on top of his hospital bed.
"Shoes in bed Aaron?"
"Well its not my bed so I don't care…."
"Fair enough. By the way, when we were packing clothes at your place this morning, Jessica told me how you had asked her to pack tracksuit trousers instead of jeans…"
"Yeah figured they'd be easiest if I had to go in a hurry…"
"Yeah said something about easy access, zippers getting stuck and tracksuit trousers being able to be pulled down easy. For once you are actually using your brain Aaron Hotchner."
"I still find jeans more comfortable but tracksuits will make it easier for me until I'm all better…"
"I think that, until you are back to…erm….normal…it's a good idea."
Just then there was a knock on the door and Morgan and Jessica re-entered.
"Good to see you dressed again boss man."
"Feels better too Morgan."
Just after they had gone back in there was a knock on the door and Dr Brooks and Tara the nurse entered. Tara was carrying 2 disposable urinal bedpans.
"Guys will you wait outside a minute? Jessica you might as well stay just in case Dr Brooks tells me anything I don't already know."
"See you in a minute Hotch."
"Thanks guys."
The doctor and nurse waited until the 2 men had left the room.
"I see your already ready to leave us Agent Hotchner…"
"Agent Hotchner wanted to be ready to go as soon as he's next urinated so that he hopefully wont have problems until he can get back home."
"Ah, good plan. Tara let him stay in this room until he's ready to leave here himself."
"We already okayed that doctor."
"So have you got any questions for me Agent Hotchner before I sign your discharge papers?"
"Yeah, how long will I have these symptoms for?"
"Depends on the infection. Hopefully the urinary tract infection medicine will kick in within a few days which will take away the urge and feeling your bladder is still full after you've urinated. Even if the symptoms still persist, once the infection has cleared you shouldn't have any symptoms."
"What about after the infection has gone and I'm better? Will this affect me in terms of what I've normally done, bathroom routine wise? Will it make me have to go more often, that kind of thing?"
"It shouldn't do but there is a chance you might need to urinate more than you used to, especially for a while after the infection clears up. But I need you from now to use the toilet as soon as you need to go or as soon as you can get access to one. No more holding for hours putting it off or anything if that's what you might of done in the past. Holding on just increases the risk of an infection recurring."
"So it might affect the amount of times I've normally used a bathroom in the past?"
"Yeah. It might be only temporary but it could be more permanent. Every person is different so I can't give you a definite answer. You'll just have to wait and see. Just do everything you can to use a toilet as soon as either you feel the need to go or you next get access to one. I have to ask, when you're working on a case and either at a stakeout, on the road, or at a scene, how long have you gone without being able to use a bathroom?"
"Depends. Sometimes on stakeouts we might be near a coffee shop or something or us guys sometimes can sneak away and use a tree or bush if we really have to go. If we are stuck in a car or van, and there's only men with us, if we get desperate to pee then we may relieve ourselves into an empty cup or bottle as a last resort. On the road there are gas stations we can stop off at so the team can answer calls of nature. Either that or we can pull over somewhere deserted if someone really has to go. Crimes scenes are more difficult. If it's a house with other's living nearby sometimes they'll allow us to use their bathroom. Other times we either have to hold it, drive somewhere, walk off and find somewhere away from the cordoned off area, go in an empty container, or, as a last resort, which I've never had to resort to but other officers have, which is to pee in their pants. But most times we are somewhere where there is reasonable access to a toilet, especially if we spend our entire time at the police stations."
"Oh right. Do you drink a lot of coffee?"
"Sometimes it what we live off so yeah we all drink a lot. We also eat a lot of take out and fast food so we have sodas a lot as well."
"I only ask as too much coffee can increase the risk of an infection recurring and can also make someone just recovering from getting over an infection need to urinate a lot more. So I'd suggest you cut back as much as you can on the coffee and soda, at least for the next few months and drink more water than coffee or soda."
"Okay, I'll try doctor."
"Good. Now I've already gone over all my discharge orders I need you to comply with. Here's a written list of everything I've told you this morning in terms of discharge orders. I've written my numbers on top if you need to contact me. But you can always contact your primary care physician." He handed Aaron a piece of paper.
"Now do you have any other questions for me before I sign you off?" Yeah, erm Jess can you leave the room a second? You too nurse Tara? This is only for men's ears…."
The doctor nodded okay and the nurse and Jessica left the room. Dave and Morgan were surprised to see the nurse and Jessica step out of the room together without the doctor.
"Jessica is Hotch okay?"
"Yeah apparently he wanted to ask the doctor something that was only for men's ears…" Jessica smiled, knowingly. Dave, and especially Morgan, couldn't believe Hotch had stuff he couldn't say in front of his own sister in law!
"So what is so embarrassing that you needed the women to leave before you could ask me?"
"I know you said no sex for at least 2 weeks and that won't be an issue as there's no one in my life but what about…er….self….er….release?"
"You mean masturbation?"
"Yeah, that."
"What about it?"
"Well I haven't tried it since before this infection hit. I just got a couple questions. First if I do do it before this infection clears will it hurt when I er..come…or will I do damage if I…er….masturbate?"
"I might refrain from masturbation until the infections clears but if you do masturbate before then it probably wont do any harm to your recovery but, as the infection also often affects the urethra, ejaculation might sting if you try it before the symptoms clear up or the infection has gone. So although it may cause stinging during ejaculation it probably wont do any harm to your recovery. But I would still refrain from both sex and masturbation for a couple of weeks until the infection has cleared up completely. And then I wouldn't over do it."
"Thank you doctor. I don't over do it as far as I know."
"How many times do you?"
"Depends where I am. If I'm at home I may do it a few times a week at most or if I need to up to twice a day. If I'm away on a case and if we get single hotels I may do it once or twice a day."
"That's not overdoing so don't worry. Are there any other questions you want to ask before I let the women back in?"
"No, that's all."
He went and called the nurse and Jessica back in.
"I'm sorry about that ladies, even men can't ask certain questions in the presence of a female." Dr Brooks smiled and winked at the nurse, who guessed what they had been talking about.
"So Agent any other questions you need to ask me?"
"Nope that's it. Thank for erm…"
"No problem Agent. Even I couldn't that in front of a woman…so it there's nothing further I'll sign your discharge papers. Tara, while I'm signing the papers can you give Agent Hotchner the 2 disposable urinals in your hands?"
"Yes doctor. Agent if you really want to you can wash these out well and reuse them until your infection clears up before you dispose of them. You do know how to use them don't you?"
"Er…yeah…thanks." Aaron took the bedpans and held them out to Jess.
"Hey Jess can you hold on to these for me just for now?"
"Er…sure Aaron…" Jessica took both of them.
"I just need your signature on the 2 lines I've put marks by to say that you've had all questions answered, you understand everything to do with your discharge and you're happy to leave our care, etc."
He handed Aaron the clipboard and pen and Aaron signed the 2 signature lines before handing the pen and clipboard back to the doctor. He handed Aaron his discharge papers.
"That's it then. Feel free to stay in here until you feel ready to leave. It may sound nasty but I hope I never see you again. Please call the numbers I wrote down should you have any further problems or questions or need refills of your prescriptions. If I'm not around I can still be paged and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
"Thank you doctor. And I hope I never see you again."
"Goodbye Agent Hotchner. We wish you a speedy recovery. Goodbye Miss Brooks. Please take very good care of Agent Hotchner."
"Don't worry I will. Bye doctor. Bye Tara."
The doctor and nurse left the room and Dave and Morgan re-entered the room.
"So what was that with the nurse and Jessica Hotch?"
"I just wanted to ask the doctor something I couldn't ask in front of a woman. That's all."
"But I thought you and Jessica didn't have any secrets and could talk to each other about almost anything dude?"
"Well not quite everything…"
Morgan and Dave quickly caught on, knowing Hotch hadn't been with anyone since Haley and so….
"Hotch dude, you DIRTY boy!"
"I just needed to ask…."
"Unlike Morgan here who gets regular sex, I understand Aaron." Dave winked at him.
"Thanks Dave. Oh and Morgan tell ANYONE ANYTHING about me talking with the doctor alone and you'll be buried in paperwork til next century, maybe even further…."
"What about these 2, why aren't you threatening or warning them to also keep quiet dude?"
"Because Jessica is my sister in law and Dave is my oldest and closest friend. I trust them both to keep any of my secrets. But I don't trust you unless you know there's gonna be payback!"
"Erm, what the hell are you holding Jessica?"
"These are for Aaron. They are disposable urinal bedpans he can use. Especially if he needs to go on the way home…."
"Dude, that's MY SUV. You are NOT using one of them in MY SUV!"
"I shouldn't Morgan. Not if I go just before we leave, which is why we are hanging here until I need to go again…"
"So we cant go home just yet? We all gotta wait until you have a piss before we can leave this godforsaken place?"
"Yep."
Just then there was a knock at the door and an orderly entered pushing a wheelchair in.
"The nurse said you can use this when you leave. Save you walking down to the car…"
"Tell her thank you. Morgan here can push me…"
"What?"
"You heard the guy Morgan."
"Hotch, whilst you don't need to go, I'll just go take a very quick piss."
"Sure Dave."
"Morgan, there's a bathroom I think down the hall. Why don't you and Jess go use that now whilst you're waiting for me. I can't have a queue for my bathroom in case I need to…"
"Sure Aaron, come on Morgan, I need a tough guy to keep me safe outside this room…" Morgan and Jessica left the room and Dave came out of Aaron's adjoining bathroom within a couple of minutes.
"Where the other's? You scared them both off or something?"
"Nah, sent them to the bathroom down the hall rather than have a queue for this one…."
"Good idea."
Just as Morgan and Jessica re-entered, Aaron felt the urge return and jumped off the bed and ran into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He managed to pull his tracksuit trousers and underpants down to around his knees and use the toilet, although he still stood straining for a good half minute after he'd finished. He really did HATE this damn infection. Once the urge had gone, he quickly pulled up his underwear and tracksuits , quickly washed his hands and flushed the toilet before heading out of the bathroom.
"Okay lets go, whilst we have enough time, or should have enough time…"
He sat in the wheelchair, knowing he didn't have the strength or energy to walk all the way to the car. Morgan reluctantly pushed the wheelchair and Dave and Jessica, having picked up the 2 urinal bedpans from the room walked beside it. They made it to Morgan's SUV and Morgan and Dave helped Aaron into the backseat. Jessica climbed in beside him. Whilst Dave left the wheelchair somewhere, Morgan started the SUV and, after letting Dave into the passenger he drove pretty fast towards Jessica's house.
They reached Jessica's house within about 20 minutes of leaving Aaron's hospital room. Finally Aaron was somewhere other than a hospital bed….